I've been thinking about "fascism" lately.
In the effort of fascism leaders to take over a country, before the tyranny is established, there is always a respectable political party wing (in spite of its hot rhetoric) and a violent outlaw wing.... a brute squad.
The Russian Social Democratic Labour Party had their Bolsheviks (led by Lenin, who took over the whole party).
Mussolini's National Fascist Party had their Black Shirts.
Hitler's National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nazi) had their Brown Shirts.
The pre-Civil Rights Democrat Party had their Ku Klux Klan.
The current Democrat Party have Antifa.
Eventually, the political party takes control. The violent brutes are jailed or killed or pressed into the military government.
A big difference now is in rhetoric. Before WWII, fascist parties were proud to call themselves "fascist." Especially Mussolini, who was first to adopt the ancient Roman "fasces" symbol of a bundle of sticks being stronger together.
Since WWII and the demise of Hitler, it has become common for emerging fascists to label their opponents as "fascist." (This misdirection is also the reason why Godwin's Law holds: In any online discussion on any topic, inevitably someone will compare his opponents to Hitler, Nazis, or fascists. And automatically looses the argument.)
